It is only a coincidence that I'm reading two consecutive books about men who were held in captivity during a war (see Unbroken). I have had A Rope and a Prayer on my radar screen since it was published last year. You may recall hearing about the New York Times journalist, David Rohde, who was kidnapped in Afghanistan by Taliban fighters. For negotiation purposes, the family and the newspaper decided to keep his ordeal a secret. Seven months later, David managed to escape unharmed from his captors. He had been taken to a Taliban compound in Pakistan.
The book is co-authored by his wife, Kristen Mulvihill, who had just started working at Cosmopolitan as a photo editor when the kidnapping occurred. David, from Pakistan, and Kristen, from the United States, provide the details of their seven months of uncertainty.
And here is an unexpected bonus--tonight, David Rohde will be discussing his story at the PAC. David is a graduate of Fryeburg Academy and he spoke with the students this afternoon. My daughter said his story is very impressive. I'm sure this isn't a regular stop on his book tour!